WEBVTT WITH A RISE IN MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ACCORDINGTO THE FBI, COMES THECONTENTIOUS DEBATE OVER GUNLAWS.THIS YEAR, CONGRESSIONALDEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FAILEDTO REACH A DEAL.JIM JOHNSON: OUR JOB IS TO KEEPTHE GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OFPEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM.I BELIEVE A NATIONAL BACKGROUNDCHECK IS CRITICAL.REPORTER: BALTIMORE COUNTYPOLICE CHIEF JIM JOHNSON CHAIRSTHE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENTPARTNERSHIP TO PREVENT GUNVIOLENCE.AN ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT OBAMA,HE'LL NOW HAVE TO PERSUADE A NEWADMINISTRATION TO TAKE ACTION.JIM JOHNSON: I'M OPTIMISTIC, ASWE MARCH INTO THE FUTURE, THATTRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL GIVEUS AUDIENCE ON THE NATIONALBACKGROUND CHECK.>> HILLARY AS PRESIDENT, NOTHANKS.REPORTER: DURING THE ELECTION,THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATIONSPENT MILLIONS ON ADS IN SUPPORTOF DONALD TRUMP THE GROUP MOSTLYAGAINST GUN REGULATIONS ENDORSEDTRUMP EARLY.DONALD TRUMP: I WILL NOT LET YOUDOWN.REMEMBER THAT.I WILL, NOT, LET, YOU, DOWN.REPORTER: POLLS SHOW 9 IN 10AMERICANS FAVOR WIDESPREADBACKGROUND CHECKS, AND A NEWSTUDY FROM THE LAW CENTER TOPREVENT GUN VIOLENCE FINDSSTATES WITH THE TOUGHEST GUNLAWS GENERALLY HAVE LOWEST GUNDEATH RATES.MARYLAND WAS GRADED AN A-, THE5TH TOUGHEST GUN LAWS, BUT ANOUTLIER IN THE STUDY WITH ANABOVE-AVERAGE CRIME RATE.ILLEGALLY-OBTAINED GUNS IMMUNETO CHECKS REMAIN A PROBLEM,ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF.>> WELL, YOU HAVE STRAWPURCHASING, WHICH IS A HUGEPROBLEM.THAT'S AN ILLEGALLY OBTAINEDGUN, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE GUNSTAKEN IN THEFTS AND BURGLARIES,AND YOU HAVE LEGALLY PURCHASED,TOO.I'VE LEARNED OVER 40 YEARS NOW,THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CARRYING AGUN ILLEGALLY HAS INCREASED.REPORTER: THE GUN LAW REPORTSTATES MARYLAND COULD IMPROVEITS GRADE BY ADDING BACKGROUNDCHECKS ON LONG GUNS, AND THESTATE COULD DO MORE TO REMOVEGUNS FROM DOMESTIC ABUSERS.SOME MARYLAND REPUBLICANS WANT A2013 GUN LAW EXPANSION REVERSED GOVERNOR HOGAN HAS SAID HE'SAGAINST A ROLL BACK.

With just a few weeks until President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office, supporters of tougher gun laws are bracing for a battle, and Baltimore County's police chief will be front and center in the debate. This comes as a national group gives Maryland one of the highest grades for gun safety, but there's a catch.

It is one of the most divisive issues among politicians, but the police chief is hoping to find common ground, even with the new administration.

Related Content

With a rise in mass shooting across the country, according to the FBI, comes the contentious debate over gun laws. This year, Congressional Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a deal.

"Our job is to keep the gun of people who should not have them, and I believe a national background check is critical," Baltimore County police Chief Jim Johnson said.

Johnson chairs the national law enforcement partnership to prevent gun violence, and he's an advisor to President Barack Obama. He'll now have to persuade a new administration to take action.

"I'm optimistic, as we march into the future, that Trump administration will give us audience on the national background check," Johnson said.

During the election, the National Rifle Association spent millions on ads in support of Trump. The group, comprised mostly of people against gun regulations, endorsed Trump early.

"I will not let you down. Remember that. I will not let you down," Trump said on May 20, 2016.

Polls show that 9 in 10 Americans favor widespread background checks, and a new study from the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence finds that states with the toughest gun laws generally have lowest gun death rates.

Maryland was graded an A, labeled as having the fifth toughest gun laws in United States, but was also an outlier in the study, with an above-average crime rate. Illegally obtained guns -- immune to checks -- remain a problem for Maryland, according to the chief.

"Well, you have straw purchasing, which is a huge problem, that's an illegally obtained gun, but you also have guns taken in thefts and burglaries, and you have legally purchased, too," Johnson said. "I've learned over 40 years now, the number of people carrying a gun illegally has increased."

The gun law report said that Maryland could improve its grade by adding background checks on long guns, and the state could do more to remove guns from domestic abusers.

Some Maryland Republicans want a 2013 gun law expansion reversed. Gov. Larry Hogan has said he's against a rollback.